Watercolour Plein Air Groups



Come and enjoy outdoor painting in good company

We have following groups:

Each group meets on Sunday morning, then has lunch together, either at a nearby cafe or picnic at the painting location. The outdoor painting sessions have a co-ordinator for each group. To be on the list to receive email confirmation a few days prior to each session, please give your email address to the co-ordinator who will be the go-to person in case of doubtful weather.




Wellington sessions are organised and tutored by selected experienced artists on a voluntary basis.

Monthly Painting Groups are FREE . If you are not a member, come along and try it out. No obligation, join up there and then if you wish to continue. We paint all year round - only serious rain puts us off!

See some PHOTOS of our outdoor painting.

The committee values the work of the regional coordinators. If you live in another region of New Zealand and wish to become a coordinator for MPG outings in your region, please contact us .


See suggested list of art materials for outdoor painting group
and an article 'Urban sketching en plein air' by Phil Dickson (also with the list of materiels to take)

Wellington Outdoor Painting week 30 March - 3 April

Venues to be announced soon – watch this space



Sketching Whangarei

WHANGAREI Sketch Group meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month to sketch at different locations in and around Whangarei. The upcoming dates: 14 February, 14 March, 11 April, 9 May. Locations will be published a week before.
Sketching Whangarei or contact Tina Seifarth tina4kiwi@gmail.com

Waihi Plein Air Group

Waihi Plein Air Group meet on the 2nd Friday of the month at 10am. Everyone welcome.
contact Pam on 022 107 5712

NEW PLYMOUTH Outdoor Painting Group

Email Yvonne Geeraedts to find out more about this monthly plein air group: l.y.houwers@actrix.co.nz

WELLINGTON Group Sunday 10 am – 12 noon

19 April - Queen’s Wharf Outer-T, Wellington Waterfront
17 May - Karaka Bay, Opposite 315 Karaka Bay Road, Miramar Peninsula
21 June - Otari Plant Museum Wilton Bush, 150 Wilton Road

We welcome newcomers to come and paint with experienced painters, followed by coffee and lunch in a nearby cafe. Join the mailing list email info@watercolournewzealand.nz Subject: WGTN MPG mailing list

Nelson-Tasman

Plein Air Painting Nelson Tasman meets weekly on a Wednesday at 10am in the Nelson Tasman area and includes watercolour and other media. You can find the group on FB @ Plein Air Painting Nelson Tasman or contact Nicole Russell for updates via email nicole@nicolerussellart.com, 0223786099

Canterbury Watercolour Plein Air Group

CANTERBURY Watercolour Plein Air Group meets monthly at locations around Christchurch and Banks Peninsula as the weather allows. Notification of events will be sent around a week in advance. Updates on Facebook and by email to those who have registered with Canterbury Watercolour Plein Air Group. Facebook Group



Review: Outdoor Painting Week: 6-10 March 2023 in Wellington

Painting outdoors challenges the artist to cope with a sun that moves and turns shadows as she goes, a breeze that sneaks under the edges of paper, passers-by who keenly remember how their grandmother did watercolour, paint that dries too fast or never dries and much more! Wellington served up the gorgeous weather that it is now known for .. for three days, but failed to oblige after that. A keen group arrived each day to set up their gear and decide which section of the scenery would be theirs to capture. A variety of beaches, hills and harbour views were on offer.

The lunch break at a nearby caf is reliably delightful. Paintings viewed and chat are shared with relish.
And then were back to catch the afternoon in watercolour. Come and join next year.


Review: Outdoor Painting week 7-11 March 2022

By Vivian Manthel-French

When a week of outdoor painting was advertised, 46 people expressed interest. The Covid threat affected many, but 20 people came to paint, one person journeying from New Plymouth! However, the numbers didnt matter and the artists that came had an outstanding opportunity which will probably never happen again in Wellington.
Because we were blessed with five days of beautiful calm weather!



On the first day at Scorching Bay the clouds promised light rain, but it held off all morning and gave us an unusual moody colouring of intense blues and greys. With the golden rocks in the foreground, it made a beautiful painting.

Day two was at Dolly Vardon Beach on the Paremata inlet. We were woken with mist but by the time we reached the location there was the view! Set against a green hillside topped with pines is a row of historic boat huts and their white boats, reflected in the calm water. The afternoon was spent in Plimmerton, though a few of us stayed to finish paintings or find a different aspect as the scene changed.

The third day was painting in Thorndon. This is old Wellington with charming early cottages down steep narrow roads and up paths and steps. Rita Angus, who is presently featured at Te Papa, lived in one of these cottages and often painted it in watercolours. A winding path leads to the house surrounded with a delightful garden and now used for Artist in Residence. The property is closed to the public but we had permission to paint in the garden. We had a blissful day painting the cottage and out-buildings. Charlotte sold her work of nearby houses on the spot to one of the owners!

Day four was at the end of Eastbourne, near the Wellington Harbour Heads. This location can be very windy but we were so lucky. It was perfect. Morning light, stony beach, bright sharp rocks, pale calm water with the two islands standing out, and the soft blue of the Wellington hills in the background.

The final day was an adventure. A huge beautiful park in Te Marua, Upper Hutt called Tunnel Gully because the old incline railway ran through a tunnel there.

It is not easy to find so Sue, who lives nearby, gave us detailed instructions. Its a hidden treasure. Beautiful native bush, tall trees with sunlight patterns shining through the branches, grassy fields and a little stream in the shade. A wonderful surprise greeted us. Our artist friend Pavithra Devadatta had set up her gazebo over a picnic table offering hot coffee and delicious food. We chatted for a while, just looking at the scenery, but managed to pull ourselves away and make the most of painting this amazing place. Thank you so much Pavithra.

It was a great day and a wonderful way to finish a week of doing what we like best, painting watercolours. Thank you Sue and Charlotte. We are all so grateful for the beauty and variety of the places you chose for us.


Photos: Outdoor Painting week March 2021